From Jimmie Athletics
It was an ACHA Division 1 top-ten tilt at Wilson Arena Thursday afternoon as the ninth-ranked University of Jamestown hosted No. 5 University of Central Oklahoma in non-conference action.
The Jimmies ended 2022 in style, coming away with a 3-2 shootout victory over the Bronchos. UJ will return action when they host Colorado State on January 7, 2023.
Austin Simpson’s eighth goal of the season was the only scoring in the first period. At the 7:30 mark, Simpson was set up by Kaeden Meuer and Zach Guerra, putting the puck past Jimmie goaltender Brandon Weare (FR/Calgary, Alberta) for the early lead.
Jake Huculak (JR/Jasper, Alberta) tied the game at 9:48 of the second with his fifth of the year on an assist by Brad Fortin (FR/Langley, British Columbia), then ten seconds later, Jordan Popoff (SR/Calgary, Alberta) put UJ ahead with his second of the year. Logan Berggren (JR/Cypress, Calif.) and Andrew Clark (JR/Spokane, Wash.) got the assists.
Jamestown kept the 2-1 lead late into the third period, but with 16:11 left Gage Thompson (SR/Valley City, N.D.) was called for holding to put UCO on the power play. Sixty-eight seconds later, Kole Christensson (FR/Calgary, Alberta) went to the box for high sticking to give the Bronchos a 5-on-3 advantage. With a little over twenty seconds left on the Thompson penalty, commotion in front of the Jimmie net allowed Vitali Mikhailov to jam home a loose puck, tying the game at 17:51. Weare and the UJ defense claimed that the puck had not crossed the line but the referee did not waive the goal.
In overtime, Weare and UCO goaltender Doug Wakelyn both turned aside four shots and the game went to a shootout.
UCO shot first, with Ondrej Blaha’s attempt saved by Weare. Morgan Venne (JR/Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) went first for Jamestown and was able to get Wakelyn out of position and put UJ ahead 1-0. Mikhailov took UCO’s second shot, and Weare denied him to keep the Jimmies in front. Jordon Kromm (JR/Calgary, Alberta) was next for Jamestown in the best-of-three format, and Wakelyn stopped the try to keep the Bronchos alive. Simpson was UCO’s last chance, and Weare made the save to send the Jimmies to victory.
M1 University of Central Oklahoma 2 at M1 University of Jamestown 3 (SO) – Status: Final SO
Thursday, December 8, 2022 – Wilson Arena (ND)
M1 University of Central Oklahoma 1 0 1 0 – 2
M1 University of Jamestown 0 2 0 0 – 3
1st Period-1, M1 University of Central Oklahoma, Simpson 8 (Meuer, Guerra), 7:30. Penalties-Susinski UJ (high sticking), 7:37.
2nd Period-2, M1 University of Jamestown, Huculak 5 (Fortin), 9:48. 3, M1 University of Jamestown, Popoff 2 (Berggren, Clark), 9:58. Penalties-Krauss UCO (tripping), 14:21; Burton UCO (roughing), 18:29; Fortin UJ (boarding), 18:29.
3rd Period-4, M1 University of Central Oklahoma, Mikhailov 18 17:51 (PP). Penalties-Stalzer UCO (slashing), 7:04; Popoff UJ (interference), 12:18; Thompson UJ (holding), 16:11; Christensson UJ (high sticking), 17:19; Stalzer UCO (tripping), 17:55.
1st OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties
Shootout – M1 University of Central Oklahoma 0 (Blaha NG, Mikhailov NG, Simpson NG), M1 University of Jamestown 1 (Venne G, Kromm NG).
Shots on Goal-M1 University of Central Oklahoma 11-7-12-4-0-34. M1 University of Jamestown 10-14-7-4-1-36.
Power Play Opportunities-M1 University of Central Oklahoma 1 / 4; M1 University of Jamestown 0 / 3.
Goalies-M1 University of Central Oklahoma, Wakelyn 10-0-0-1 (35 shots-33 saves). M1 University of Jamestown, Weare 8-2-0-0 (34 shots-32 saves).